Biotech Investment News: Novartis’s Key Deals from 2015 to 2025

Strategic Review: From Blockbusters to Nuclear Medicine, Gene and Cell Therapy

Over the past decade, Novartis has strategically shifted its focus toward high-value therapies, including nuclear medicine (Pluvicto), gene therapy (Zolgensma), and rare kidney and neuromuscular diseases. These moves reflect a prioritization of innovative, high-impact treatments and targeted portfolio management.

Major Acquisitions and Collaborations (2015–2025)

• 2016: Selexys Pharmaceuticals (sickle cell disease, anti-P-selectin antibody)
• 2018: AveXis (Zolgensma: SMA gene therapy) – ~$8.7B
• 2018: Endocyte (radioligand Lu-PSMA-617 for prostate cancer) – ~$2.1B
• 2020: The Medicines Company (Inclisiran: RNAi cholesterol therapy) – ~$9.7B
• 2020: Cadent Therapeutics (neuropsychiatric therapeutics)
• 2023: Dystrogen Therapeutics (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy cell therapy)
• 2023: Chinook Therapeutics (IgA nephropathy pipeline) – up to ~$3.5B
• 2025: Precision BioSciences partnership (CAR-T / CAR-NK gene editing immunotherapies)

Strategic Implications

Novartis has actively transitioned toward next-gen modalities—from one-time gene therapies like Zolgensma to radioligand therapy and RNA interference drugs. Its focus on rare diseases and innovative mechanisms signals long-term strategic realignment.

My Insight

Novartis exemplifies how a major pharma can strategically restructure—such as the spin-off of Sandoz—while investing in future-defining technologies. Its portfolio transition is a model of innovation-driven sustainability.

References

• AveXis Acquisition (2018)
• Endocyte Acquisition (2018)
• The Medicines Company Acquisition (2020)